The ice domes and outlet glaciers that cover most of the islands’ surface.
Franz Josef Land, a Russian Arctic archipelago covering 16,134 km², is about 85 % glaciated—the highest proportion of any Arctic island group. Its extreme latitude, cold maritime climate, abundant snowfall, and rugged geology together create ideal conditions for the formation and persistence of glaciers.
Approximately 85 % of Franz Josef Land, the Russian high‑Arctic archipelago, is covered by glaciers. This makes the islands one of the most ice‑dominated regions on Earth and a key focus for climate and sea‑level research.
Franz Josef Land’s glaciers have accelerated their mass loss in the past decade, with thinning rates up to 10 m yr⁻¹ and a doubling of ice loss between 2011 and 2015. The change is driven by rapid Arctic warming, oceanic heat, and spatially variable precipitation, posing implications for sea‑level rise and regional ecosystems.
